France Plans To Ban Both Diesel And Petrol Vehicles By 2040

The new environment minister of France has announced the new plan for the country, which is to try and ban all diesel and petrol vehicles by 2040.

This announcement by Nicolas Hulot was made when he uncovered a completely new series of measures. These measures are a part of the President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to make France completely carbon neutral in the next 30 years.

This new plan is going to put a significant pressure on the car makers in France, and he recognizes that issue. However, he also mentioned that there are multiple projects that can be used in order to fulfill this promise.

The plan has even taken into consideration the poorer households. Apparently, they will receive a premium which will allow them to exchange the polluting cars for clean ones.

The announcement did not come by itself, however, but in fact followed Volvo’s decision to start building and selling only electric or hybrid cars. This decision was made public on Wednesday, and the new vehicles will start with production in 2019.

Mr. Hulot’s announcement also includes the abandonment of coal when it comes to producing electricity, which should be done by 2022. Energy efficiency should feel a significant boost thanks to €4bn of investments as well.

This all comes as a part of a plan to encourage clean energy that will take effect in the next five years. It will also fulfill commitments that the country took on itself with the Paris Agreement. It is the only way for the country to maintain a certain leadership when it comes to the climate policy, which is the government’s aim.

The general plan is to show that the daily lives of French people can be greatly improved by simply fighting the climate change. But France is not the only country with such plans when it comes to combustion-powered vehicles.

Similar plans were also announced in countries like Norway, as well as the Netherlands. In fact, their plan is to do the same by 2025, while India and Germany are also aiming to do it by 2030.

As for France, the plans don’t stop there. The country also has plans to stop importing multiple products, including unsustainably grown soya, and palm oil. In order to get those products, massive deforestation projects were conducted, and France doesn’t want to be a part of it anymore.

Mr. Hulot also mentioned citizen panels, which will allow debating and thinking of some new, practical ways for France to fight the climate change. Even French Parliament is expected to vote on a new bill this autumn. The bill would involve banning exploitation permits when it comes to coal, petrol, as well as natural gas.

Nuclear energy will also feel the significant change, since using it is expected to drop from 75% to 50% by 2025.

James Thornton, the CEO of ClientEarth, has stated that exponential changes will be felt if the country goes through with these plans. Both climate and air quality will be much improved by this.

Whatever the case may be, these changes are expected to happen, and those who do not support this direction will soon have quite a struggle ahead of them. And other governments, as well as industries, are also advised to heed these moves and to follow these countries’ example. Every bit of effort will help with fighting off the climate change and similar issues.